Nancy - specifically in Scotland

[DefinitelyMaybeBaby]

Hello, we are considering Nancy for DD due next year. I don't currently live in Scotland but it's in the plan for the future to move there. Randomly I noticed that Nancy is much lower then the Scottish names charts than it is the English/Welsh. It's low down the top 100 in England but so near the bottom of the Scottish charts, like only 9 babies last year. I've seen variations between the two charts with other names but never so extreme. Is there a reason for this? I know Nancy can be a bit of an insult to mean like a wimpy or effeminate male but would that be why 🤔 Would like to know from Scottish people if there is something I am missing before I name her something I come to regret if we move there when she is older!

[dementedpixie]

Its fine

[Mmsnet101]

It's fine, I know a few Nancy's in their 50s (Scottish). No random other meaning here as far as I know.

[TheDaydreamBelievers]

In west of Scotland I know a few people in their 80s who are Nancy. Its since disappeared. Some children will probably use the insult "nancy" but it isnt a strong insult!

[nancywhisky]

yup. it's fine

[Merename]

I know a 3yr old Nancy in central Scotland. I adore it - her mum was almost put off by relatives who didn’t like it but she so suits the name. Doesn’t have any negative connotations that I know of, it’s more a taste thing and I love vintage names.

[Givemestrengthorgin]

I've known Nancy to be used as a way of describing someone as a bit of a wimp. E.g if a man ran away from a spider he might be described as a big Nancy. But not that derogatory or widely used in that way

[fluffygreenmonsterhoody]

There’s nothing wrong with it.

The only negative connotation is that it’s used up here by some people (generally my dads generation, age 60+) to describe a man/boy who’s a bit of a wuss, a bit effeminate - ‘he’s a bit of a Nancy’, ‘he’s a Nancy boy’.

Not enough to put you off using it though, so if you love it go for it!

[nancywhisky]

E.g if a man ran away from a spider he might be described as a big Nancy - that's a big Jessie, not a nancy boy.

But I dont think my kids ( for example) would understand that usage. its pretty archaic and died out.

Nancy is a lovely name.

[Magicbabywaves]

I thought it was a derogatory term for a gay man.

[Magicbabywaves]

Although I don’t think that he I hear it, but certainly heard people saying it in the 80s

[Sleepdeprived42long]

I think it’s short for Agnes up here. My grandparents (all born in 1920s) had friends called Nancy/Agnes. It’s a very old (fashioned) name.

[CaurnieBred]

I was brought up calling my genitalia my "nancy", short for Nancy pretty.
I have no idea why
I come from a small town in the Central Belt.

[August20]

In some areas it's still primarily a nickname (for Anne or Agnes) so wouldn't show up on name charts even if it was in use.

Mind you not sure how many little girls named Agnes are running around either

[MimiDaisy11]

I find "Nancy" is quite an old insult. Never seen children use it and like you said it's for feminine boys.

I can't think of any other reason why it's less popular than in England.

The only Nancy I've met in Scotland is American and in her 40s.

[TotalBitch]

Nancy is used everywhere to mean wimpy. There's a song called Nancy Boy by Placebo who are American (I think).

I think the only name you have to watch in Scotland is shortening Edward to Ned. Also if you felt inclined to name your child after the biblical character Job. Can't think of any others off the top of my head.

*Disclaimer: I'm not Scottish, but I used to live there. Miss you Scotland!

[zigaziga]

The only Nancys I know (2) are Scottish. One about 85 and the other 50-something.

[Wanderdust]

Nancy is short for Agnes where I'm from! But you don't hear that name a lot, especially for kids - usually it's older women. But I don't think it has any particularly bad connotations these days, you're fine.

[DefinitelyMaybeBaby]

Thank you all for your replies. I know the old-fashioned style of name would be decisive and ok with that, just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing an obvious thing specific to Scotland - like Ned as another posted said.
I also like Martha, another old fashioned name which is far higher in the English/Welsh charts than the Scottish so maybe the Scots just aren't as keen on these vintage revivals yet!

[DefinitelyMaybeBaby]

*devisive not decisive!

[VenusClapTrap]

I know a gay Scottish man who refers to himself as ‘a Nancy’. He’s in his late fifties, so this isn’t necessarily something that a child born now would come across much.

I also know a Scottish woman of a similar age called Nancy and I don’t think she has any issues with it.

[7to25]

" oh Nancy tickle me fancy, oh my darlin' Billy boy"

[festivebug]

I wouldn't due to the saying "Negative Nancy." It definitely ruins the name for me.

[DefinitelyMaybeBaby]

@festivebug interesting, always "negative nelly" where I grew up.

For those interested in the stats there were over 800 Nancys in England and Wales last year and 7 in Scotland!

[dementedpixie]

I've never heard negative Nancy or negative Nelly used here.

[EvelynBeatrice]

I know a couple of Scottish girls called Nancy, one five year old and one 18. I think it’s pretty. I haven’t heard it used as an insult up here - I do get the ‘Nancy boy’ insult but haven’t heard it in years - I suspect that it has fallen out of use due to the homophobic implications.